About the community

What you think: Friday back talk

Schools out for good?

December 12, 2008

Smaller is better

That is a strange tactic [to close schools], as studies are now forecasting that schools of the future should be smaller, located closer to their customers and tied together electronically. The gargantuan campuses are the products of an age that is now past. We could save on transportation costs and enhance parental involvement by building smaller schools within walking distance of the students. Enormous size does not foster learning.

I don't support the closing of community schools. It didn't fly when the School Board tried it a couple years ago. At that time, it was arguing unitary status and trying to save money; now it has no money and is neglecting the bettering of a student's education.

Josi, Orlando, FL

A side benefit

Yep! And lower our property taxes accordingly.

Conservative Republican, St. Cloud

Stand up to special interests

Come on, Orange County; our public schools are already crowded enough. Now you come along and propose closing some of the existing schools that will make the remaining open schools even more crowded? As they say on that beer commercial on TV, "Brilliant!"

. . . What is it going to take to finally wake up? Are these the type of "brilliant" ideas that we pay you very good money to come up with? I think you can come up with much better solutions to the current financial situation if you would only use your brains. You can start by having the courage to stand up to all the special-interest groups that suck so much of the monies set aside for education that have nothing to do with providing a quality education to our well-deserving youth -- the future leaders of our country.

This is where you need to focus your attention and where you need to be making your cuts -- not closing schools.

David M Sutton, Lady Lake, FL

If fiscally responsible . . .

Should county school boards close selected schools to make up budget deficits? Not a "yes" or "no" question. Our school boards have a fiscal responsibility while fulfilling their obligation to provide the best education for our children. . . . If acting fiscally responsible means closing schools, then the board should close them, provided it has adequately traded the alternatives, giving priority to education, then the impact to the community.

Rich Craig Orlando FL, Windermere, FL

Close schools, lose teachers

If they close the schools, there will be a lot of teachers without jobs. Let's not add to our unemployment population anymore, and our students deserve better.